Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had a mite problem in the past, maybe 2 years ago? I switched rooms where the snakes were kept for a while, got new enclosures, new everything, covered everything with provent a mite and bam. Gone. Probably about 3 months ago I moved 3/4 of my collection into my basement, and kept some of the smaller snakes I'm power feeding upstairs. Before the snakes were moved into the basement the area they were being moved to was cleaned, and sprayed down with the last of my provent a mite.

A month ago ago I noticed little bugs on the containers downstairs that looked a lot like mites. Not too many of em, but I could see them here and there on some lids. I fed all the snakes a good bit that day, changed water bowls, turned the light off and left them alone for a week. And when I came back a week later every lid was covered in mites. So I ordered a couple more cans of provent a mite and bought all the rubbermaid containers I could find of the size I use.

When the provent a mite arrived every snake was washed off with water and a rag as much as they'd allow it, their enclosures were washed out, some snakes got new containers as enclosures, substrate was changed (aspen bedding from petco), they all got new water bowls, and all of which was sprayed with provent a mite. The area where the snakes were being kept once again got cleaned and sprayed as well. Later on that night all the snakes ate, and I left them alone again.

I don't know if they're mites or not but they're back, and if they are, someone needs to invent provent a proventable mite because these seem to have the regular stuff beat. I don't get what provent a mite does, if a week later theres tons of mites crawling on everything that was sprayed with the stuff? And I don't remember exactly what the mites looked like last time my collection had them I just got rid of them as quick as I could. These things are clustered up in hundreds of thousands on a couple of the lids... Like in the picture below, that's the lid on a 10 gallon aquarium in that snake room that houses a mexican milk snake. At the top left hand corner of the lid, that light colored area is a cluster of these things.

All the while, none of the snakes upstairs have any sign of any bugs, and none of the snakes went off feed or started acting funny.
What to do.

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Mike
KingPin Reptiles
www.kingpinreptiles.com

I am thinking possibly wood mites. I once had a similar thing on one of my glass tanks. They did not seem interested in plaguing the snake, but did like to crawl on the lid. I washed the tank and sprayed the area with permethrin .50%. Possibly your basement has a wood mite infestation. Other sorts of little bugs like to live in basements, too.

Can you post a better picture of the insect? Or draw a picture of it.

Yeah I can't really tell from the pics either, but sounds like maybe wood mites. If they aren't all over your snakes than they are just pests but probably harmless. Take a white cloth and run over a snake and see if there is black little bugs all over them? I have had wood chips that have had mites also and they didn't hurt my snakes at all, even thoigh I decllared war on them, lol. I had a muse colony years ago that was over run with some strange mites. They only gathered on the wooden frames. They seemed harmless too but I got rid of the colony took the racks outside sprayed it all down with bleach and started over again. Thank GOD I haven't seen them come back. No pest strips were the cure of choice when I was growing up. But They did nothing for the mouse colony mites. I believe they have changed the active ingredients over the years also, but not 100% sure. I do know many snake keepers fried their snakes by over exposing them to the potent strips for too long. I used to cut a piece about the width of my finger and about 2 inches long. Placed it on top of screen and in two days all mites would die. Don't know if they are still effective?
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King Snakes! Who can make a better mouse trap?
J Sierra

I'm gonna have to try and take some pics with my digital camera later. And no this whole time I've yet to see a bug on one of the snakes.
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Mike
KingPin Reptiles
www.kingpinreptiles.com

bugguide.net/node/view/279536
Am looking forward to pics of your bug. This is what mine looked like:

isn't that a wood louse?
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

errr..... wood mite?
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

That is a wood louse. Lice are insects whereas mites are arachnids ( the spider family). An easy way to tell insects from arachnids is insects have 6 legs and arachnids have 8 legs.

yeah I was mistyping all over the place..Just gave up
:Mark
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Surrender Dorothy!

crimsonking.piczo.com/

Mike, go to home depot and get some no pest strips. They work on all kinds of bugs and last longer than preventamite. Simply cut a strip into a half dozen smaller pieces and set up a perimeter. As long as you have good circulation you should be ok.

How many of the old timers still use no pest strips in their collections? I remember about 15 yrs ago that was pretty much the only way to get rid of mites, along with real good husbandry and daily soaking. Now, I've been back in the hobby for a few years and it seems that everything I read says that it can cause respitory infections and brain damage. ( not that I always believe what I read on the internet) Also does anyone know if they still have the same ingredients in the No Pest Strips?
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Jimmy Tintle

I believe they changed the formula slightly. I dont use them the same way I used to in mite treatment, but in small pieces spread around the snake room it cuts down on insects. I seem to be having a problem this year with the carrion flies on my eggs. I also wanted to see if kept in proximity it would kill the larvae....not noticably.

I used to use a razor blade and shave off slivers and but them in a 1oz plastic cup with wholes in it and keep it right on the shelf of the rack.( with new additions I kept it inside the container for 2 weeks)Never had any problems. Do you think this is to close of proximity to the snake? let us know about your conclusion on the carrion fly I had them last year.
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Jimmy Tintle

As far as the flies...cant say they have any aversion to pest strips.

I was told these are wood mites and they come with the wood shavings you buy at the pet store
Bugs give me the heebie jeebies though
I used Permethrin to kill them as well as just whiping off the snakes.

They seemed to hang out on the eyes(yuck)

I'm told they are not harmfull to snakes
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"He's down in the basement staring at his snakes " My Wife

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Doug L

My nephew had a problem with mites that we were sure came from the aspin. Didn't mess with the colubrids much but got all over his pythons. He used every spray possible but got a tip from a freind and put flea collars(3 for a dollar at the dollar store) around the legs of his racks and they were gone in no time.He still had to soak his snakes but the collars kept any new ones out. Hope it helps.